Context Clues

Context Clues

by Stephanie Giermek

​Context Clues

​Context clues are hints to the meaning of a difficult word. These hints can be in the same sentence or in the sentences before or after the sentence that uses the difficult word.

​The Water Cycle

​As you read the story, pay attention to the underlined words, and any hints you might find about the meanings of these words.

​​The Water Cycle

​You can’t see it, but the water cycle is always in motion on the earth. This series of events goes round and round, again and again, providing clean, fresh water for the land and seas. As water goes through this cycle, it is sometimes solid ice, sometimes liquid water, and sometimes a gas called water vapor.

Multiple Choice

Select which context clues give a hint to the meaning of each of these words: 

cycle

• …can’t see it…

• …on the earth…

• …series of events goes round and round…

Multiple Choice

Select which context clues give a hint to the meaning of each of these words:

 vapor

• …through this cycle…

• …a gas…

• …liquid water…

​The Water Cycle

​The energy that drives the water cycle is heat. When heat is added to ice, the ice melts into water. When heat is added to water, it evaporates, turning from liquid into gas. When heat is taken away from water vapor, it condenses, turning from gas into liquid. When heat is taken away from water, it freezes, turning from liquid to solid.

Multiple Choice

Select which context clues give a hint to the meaning of each of these words: evaporates

• ...heat is added to water…

• …heat is taken away…

• ...turning from liquid into gas…

Multiple Choice

Select which context clues give a hint to the meaning of each of these words: 

condense

• …turning from gas into liquid…

• …it freezes...

• …turning from liquid to solid…

​​The Water Cycle

​The heat from the sun warms the water in oceans and rivers. The water changes into water vapor that rises into the air. High above the earth, the water vapor cools and becomes tiny particles of water that create clouds. As the clouds gather more and more particles of water, the water falls as rain or snow, which are two forms of precipitation. This precipitation is absorbed in the ground or is added to the water in oceans, lakes, and rivers. The cycle is always, constantly, in process, everywhere in the world.

Multiple Choice

Select which context clues give a hint to the meaning of each of these words: particles

• …tiny…

• …create…

• …becomes...

Multiple Choice

Select which context clues give a hint to the meaning of each of these words: precipitation

• ...particles of water…

• . …rain or snow…

• …absorbed in the ground…

​The End

​Credit K-5 Worksheets